at of adding to the domain of
their imperial master, they set out upon an expedition which has
become historic. The bare recital of what befell them would
fill volumes. Now meeting with the scattered tribes of Indians,
bestowing presents and in turn sharing the hospitality offered;
now speaking words of admonition and of instruction; now gathering
up the crude materials for history; now reverently setting up
the cross in the wilderness; again threading the pathless forests,
or in frail barks sailing unknown waters, they pursued their perilous
journey.

"In time, after looking out upon the waters of Lake Michigan,
crossing Lake Winnebago, visiting the ancient villages of the
Kickapoos, 'with joy indescribable,' as Marquette declared, they
for the first time beheld the Mississippi. In June, 1673, upon
the east bank of the great river, they landed upon the soil of what
is now the State of Illinois. At the little village they first
visited they received hospitable treatment. Its inmates are known
in our early history as 'the Illini'--a word signifying _men._
The euphonic termination added by the Frenchmen gives us the
name Illinois. It is related that, upon the first appearance of
Marquette and Joliet at the door of the principal wigwam of the
village, they were greeted by an aged native with the words: 'The
sun is beautiful, Frenchmen, when you come to visit us; you
shall enter in peace into all our cabins; it is well, my brothers,
you come.' In the light of the marvellous results of the visit,
the words of the aged chieftain seem prophetic. We, too, may say it
was well they came.

"The glory of having discovered the upper Mississippi and the valley
which bears its name belongs to Marquette and Joliet. It was theirs
to add the vast domain under the name 'New France' to the empire
of _le Grand Monarque._ In very truth a princely gift. But no
history of the great valley and the majestic river would be complete
which failed to tell something of the priest and historian, Hennepin,
and of the knightly adventures of the Chevalier La Salle.

"Much, indeed, that is romantic surrounds the entire career of
La Salle. Severing his connection with a theological school in
France, his fortunes were early cast in the New World. From Quebec,
the ancient French capital of this continent, he projected an
expedition which was to add empire to his own country and to cast a
glamour about his own name. It has been said that h